Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

CClviii WILLIAM, FIRST MARQUIS OF ANNAXDALE, 1G72-1721.
occasion, so far as known, is the earl found acting under the commission.
This was in the parish of Twynam.on 10th June 1 085, when his lordship and
Sir Jlobert Grierson of Lag made search for four nonconformists. The earl
with his party having come upon David lialliday and George Short, gave
them quarter till they should be tried the next day. When Lag came upon
the scene he refused them quarter, and allhougli the earl informed him of his
promise, he had the men shot on the spot.^
Aunandale is brought into prominence in connection witli the condemna-
tion and execution of the Duke of Jlonmouth. The Eight Ilouorable Charles
James Fox quotes in the appendix to his History a paper obtained fro]n the
Euccleucli repositories v.-]iieh contains information of what passed in the last
days of Monmouth. In doing so, after stating that intimation was made to
Monmouth of the time fixed for his execution, he says :
" All the while he importuned more of liis former acquaintance, especially
such as he thought to have any credit or interest with the king, to intercede for
him; at least for a longer respytc. The Lord Annaudale and the Lord Dover
were frequently sent for [by Monmouth] to come and speak with him. The
latter not being in town could not give him that satisfaction he promised himself
if he saw him. The first hade leave to go and see him ; and the business was
that he would be pleased to go and wait on his Majestic, and reinforce the argu-
ments he had formerly used towards the saving of his life." -
As is well known, the efforts here referred to failed, and Monmouth was
executed on the 15th of July 1GS5. At the time of Monmouth's execution,
Annandale was only 21 years of age, and, if he was employed as here indi-
cated, he hac^ not yet acquired such a position as to make him a prominent
intermediary with the king for saving the life of his nephew.
From accounts preserved in the Aunandale Charter-chest the earl made
a journej' to London in the month of JIarch 1685, and remained there
during the greater part of the mouth. As his lordship acquired his full
' Wodrow'a History, folio edition, vol. ii. p. 500.
^ The Kiglit Hod. George Rose ou Mr. Fox's History, AppenJi.x >"o. 8, p. Ixviii.
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